Former Mumbai Indians spinner Harbhajan Singh has come out in defence of Jasprit Bumrah after the India fast bowler’s IPL 2026 run failed to match the impact he has delivered in previous seasons. While Bumrah’s reputation as a strike bowler in T20 cricket remains intact, Harbhajan believes the bigger story is Mumbai’s over-reliance on him—along with concerns about how confident and supported the rest of the bowling group has been.
Across 11 league matches, Bumrah managed only three wickets and finished with an economy rate of 8.51, a tally that stands out as unusually modest for a bowler often expected to swing games at crucial moments. Mumbai’s campaign was then ended after they lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on Sunday, a result that mathematically knocked the five-time champions out of the playoff race.
Harbhajan’s defence of Bumrah and concerns for MI’s attack
- Harbhajan said Bumrah can influence a match instantly, but warned against placing the entire bowling burden on him.
- He pointed to the wider bowling unit, suggesting that other options—including Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar and Hardik Pandya—have appeared low on confidence during the season.
- Harbhajan argued that Mumbai’s challenge is rebuilding that confidence so the supporting bowlers can perform at the level expected alongside Bumrah.
- He said Mumbai have designed their bowling plans around Bumrah for years, yet feels the current campaign has become too dependent on the pacer to produce wickets.
- According to Harbhajan, the side needs additional wicket-taking contributions rather than expecting one bowler to cover the gap.
- He also flagged the spin department, calling it a concern—especially the lack of high-quality local spin options within the squad.
- Harbhajan added that Mumbai previously had strong Indian spinner options, but believes the present group lacks that key element, describing it as a major shortfall.
Beyond the numbers and roles, Harbhajan also addressed what he sees as a noticeable decline in Mumbai’s intensity and belief this year. He described the team’s body language as something he has never seen from the franchise, stressing that the will to fight has been missing in moments where it used to be visible even during tough stretches.
“The body language of Mumbai Indians, which also plays a big role, is something I have never seen like this before,” Harbhajan said. He recalled that even in seasons where the team struggled badly—such as the year they suffered five defeats in a row—the squad’s attitude never looked flat and the desire to bounce back remained clear.
Harbhajan further suggested that the current squad lacks the confidence and leadership spark needed to recover when matches turn sour. In his view, Mumbai need a clear voice on the field to reset the mindset and drive reactions during high-pressure phases.
“Right now, that confidence is missing,” Harbhajan said. “Somebody needs to lead the way and say, ‘Whatever has happened is in the past. How we change things from here will depend on how we react on the field.’ It starts with one person, someone who needs to step up as that leader and take the team forward.”
